Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials (such as dirt or paper). This pattern should last at least 1 month to fit the diagnosis of pica.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Pica is seen more in young children than adults, with 10-32% of children aged 1 to 6 exhibiting these behaviors.
Pica can occur during pregnancy. In some cases, specific nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency, may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth.
Symptoms:
Pica is the eating of non-food substances. Clay, dirt, ice, sand, animal feces, paint, and hairballs are just a few examples of what children and adults with pica have been known to eat.
Signs and tests:
There is no single test that confirms pica, but because pica is associated with abnormal nutrient levels and in some cases malnutrition, blood levels of iron and zinc should be tested.
Hemoglobin can also be checked to test for anemia. Lead levels should always be checked in children who may have eaten paint or objects covered in lead-paint dust. The presence of infection may be detected if contaminated soil or animal waste is being ingested.
Review Date: 5/17/2006
Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Childhood/Adolescent Behavioral Health, Eating & Somatoform Disorders
